The Course

With around 75 per cent of land in the UK devoted to primary food production, agriculture continues to be the mainstay of the rural economy. However, in addition to the science and technology associated with animal and crop production, the modern agricultural manager must manage an increasingly diversified business and embrace a range of responsibilities for enhancing the environment, integrating production within the food chain and maintaining rural communities.

The agriculture courses at Harper Adams give students a thorough understanding of modern agricultural production systems and the underlying scientific and technological principles. They equip students to manage a sustainable agricultural business in the complex and dynamic rural economy. This is a very broad and challenging remit, and consequently a wide range of optional modules allows you to select a programme of study to meet your personal requirements.

The Placement

Many opportunities are available for agriculture students. You will usually undertake paid employment on modern progressive farms or in the agricultural support industries, depending on your interests and career aspirations. Some students opt to undertake their industrial placement overseas in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for example.

The Future

There are many diverse career opportunities for agriculture graduates in all sectors of the food chain. The applied nature of our courses, teaching methods and close links with industry give you the academic, vocational and employment skills which are highly sought after by employers.

As an agriculture graduate you may go on to manage farms either at home or elsewhere (e.g. Farmcare, Velcourt, G’s Marketing, Intercrop). Alternatively, you may opt for a career in the support industries (e.g. Syngenta, NFU) or advisory services (e.g. DEFRA, DARDNI, ADAS). Studying agriculture also develops the skills needed for graduate careers such as accountancy, teaching, journalism and the civil service.